The leap from computers as monstrosities to people personally owning them can be greatly attributed to the creation of the microprocessor. Primarily developed for Busicom, a Japanese calculator company, in 1971, the chip went unused by the corporation. So, shortly after buying back the rights, Intel advertised their new “computer on a chip”. Although very expensive to design, this chip was fairly inexpensive to manufacture. The integrated circuit is another thing that influenced the creation of personal computers. After discovering that circuits had many problems, the integrated circuit was introduced by Jack Kilby & Robert Noyce which created a smaller, more reliable circuit than it’s predecessor.

Microcomputers were then introduced. Developed by MITS in 1975, the Altair 8800 was the beginning of the commercial micro computer industry. But what’s important is that this was not yet considered a personal computer. This computer came as a kit and was intended to be used primarily by hobbyist, not the general public. However, this along with the birth of The Homebrew Computer Club was responsible for the idea of the personal computer. Although this club only consisted of hobbyist, their newsletters were very influential in spreading the word to the public about this new and upcoming “computer culture”. This was a pivotal changing point in perceptions about computers.

Finally in 1976, the first personal computer, Apple I, was introduced. Hand built by Steve Wozniak and demonstrated by Steve Jobs, this computer went on sale in July of 1976 for $666.66. Making it unique from others, this computer came fully assembled, as opposed to in a kit, which made it virtually usable by everyone.

Week 5 Top Posts

The difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web is explained a lot throughout the material this week. Narrowing it down in my own words the internet to my knowledge is what connects one computer to another. The web is what we surf while using the internet. The web needs the internet in order […]

I found Lickliders article prophetic in the ways in which he described technology and its uses within the workplace, and also socially. However, I thought that he missed the mark psychologically, and in certain (central) ways in which computers are used. Interestingly, at the beginning of the article Licklider seemed to sense the very sentiment […]

Licklider’s article highlights the framework of the modern internet, and in this way I believe it was a form of a self fulfilling prophecy. For a basic demonstration he had of what essentially amounted to a powerpoint on shared screens with a phone conference for talking, and given that the article was written in 1968, […]